Control mechanism for vending and like machines



Oct. 14, 1952 F. E. ERICKSQN ET AL CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l E I E- Oct. 14, 1952 F. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,613,793

cou'mox. MECHANISM FUR VENDING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FRED E. E R/cKs 01v LOYAL K. R01:

Oct. 14, 1952 F. E. ERICKSON ET m. 2,613,793

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING A ND LIKE MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORS FRED .Emcnso- LOYAL K. R0:

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING AND LIKE MACHINES Fred E. Erickson and Loyal K. Roe, Sacramento, Calif.; said Roe assignor to said Erickson Application September 19, 1950, Serial No. 135,552

Claims. (Cl. 194-76) This invention relates to vending and like machines and more particularly to the type of operating mechanisms thereof which are rendered capable of actuation upon the insertion thereinto of a designated token piece such as a coin.

An object of the present invention is to provide an amusement machine of the aforementioned character having a sight opening through which one of a series of displays may be viewed iii-unpredictable sequence upon insertion of a coin into the operating mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the class described whose structural character and operational functions have been reduced to the utmost simplicity so as to minimize production, assembly and upkeep costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described in which a selector wheel is utilized, the said Wheel hav-,-

ing a plurality of defined peripheral increments registerable with a sight opening and arranged to be given unequal rotational impulses so asto position an unpredictable one;of the increments in line with the coin actuated sight opening.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character set forth in which actuation of the internal mechanism may be effected by manual operation of a control lever disposed exteriorly ofnthe apparatus.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part'of; the speciflcation.' It is to be understood, however, that variation in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention. a v

Figure 2 is a side elevational cross-sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1'.

Figure 3 is a top plan cross-sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view'of the internal construction taken along the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is'a view similar to Figure'2 indicating one position'of the parts upon insertion-of the token piece, portions of the view being broken away to more clearly illustratethe operation of the device.

Figure 6 is a view similar't'o Figure 5 indicating another position of the mechanism; portionsof the view being broken away as aforesaid. Figure 7 'is a cross-sectional side elevational view of amodified form of our invention. t Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5, but with portions of the view being broken away to conserve space on the drawing, illustrating the modified embodiment of the invention. a 1

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6, illustrating the modified mechanism in adifferent position.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of the modified form of the invention. The mechanism of the present i'nventio'nis arranged to be operatively inserted in a suitable housing preferably including a front Wall 16 and an integrally formed top wall 11, the junction of the walls forming an angularly relatedwall portion lB.- As will be noted from the drawing, the side edges of said walls are constructed with continuous flanges I9 so that the entire unit may be installed in or otherwise-secured to a receptacle having'an open front and top'fportion, the particular .form of the receptacle "not constituting any part of the invention and herefore not illustrated in the drawings. g

Mounted for rotation in the housing isa 'selector wheel 2| having a plurality of "defined increments 22 extending radially along the-periphery of the wheel. Suitable indicia 23 such as printed words or pictures are placed on each of such increments and are arranged so that the-indicia 'on one of such increments may be viewed through an opening providedin front wall I6. However, a movable shutter 24'is normally disposed between the periphery of -'vvhee l 2| and the opening so that theindicia will be hidden from view until a token piecei, such as acoin 26, is inserted'in the mechanism as'wilt be hereinafter described; Wheel 2| is also pro vided with a hollow journal fixedly mounted on a sideplate 28 which is coextensive with the wheel periphery as will be clear from Figure 4,

journal 21 being mounted for rotation on a sta-'-' tionary shaft- 29 extending-from a bracke't3l: Bracket 3| is mounted at right angles to Walls 16 and I! so astopos-ition shaft 29in parallel relationship therewith,- and may be secured -to such walls by means of {angle -=clips '32 mounted on the interior surface of the walls and through suitable rivets 33 extendingthrough the inwardly extending-flanges of 'th'e clips and the bracket. In order -to prevent accidental dislodgment of-jour'nal- 21 and selectorwh'eel 2i from shaft 29, we have provided the distal end of the shaft with an aperture-through which a cotter pin 34 or like elernen't maybe inserted; washers 36- beinginserted-on the shaft "between 3 the distal'end of the journal and the pin 34 in a manner well known in the art.

Means are provided for impartin unidirectional unequal rotational impulses to the wheel 2| whereby an unpredictable one of the indicia 23 will be aligned with the aforesaid front wall opening, and as here shown, such. means include a ratchet wheel 37 fixed to and axially spaced from the Wheel side plate 28. Wheel 31 may be secured to the plate by means of rivets 38 with spacer washers 39 inserted therebetween.

It will also be noted that ratchet wheel 3'! is provided with an axially aligned aperture arranged to fit over a diametrically reduced portion 4| of journal 21, a shoulder '42 of the latter element also serving to maintain the axial spacing of the ratchet wheel from plate 28. To rotate the wheel, we have provided a detent member 45. normally maintainedlih. a rad ally spaced position relative te the. ra het wheel t h 44,. and which s. dispose adjacent t inne wal surface o bracket-3!.- This member pr vi ed w h an hwhr.dly extendin extension 56 nd; it wil b th t u on. mov m hthi the er hbwardi and to the ri ht (as iewe n Fi u e extension 46 l en a e cheat t e teeth. .44 and u on r b ir turh of the member to its normal position, the aforesaid sciatica ill be eiieeted in the d ec on; nd eeted- To prevent eeh dir e i l ota i n at se ehsl @ete t 4! i uti zed. h s eleten a he inward Xteni l i eh a eabl w th fhtche tu h 4- lhtt detent y be se ered. Q t e wise secured t the n er a ea ee 9i; b cke h nd cat d t 9-- V s wa prev ou y stated it is e i bl to eiiiee thesele-e e whe l ,r h e from. e eri v lit e mec ani m h usi g. a ds he efor necessary in provide an accessible manually ope hand e 5 ebe e ive y c ne te ten member.- su h. e een e m a s m a varietyoi forms, but, we prefer to have handle 5l' formedas an integral Part of a lever; 5 2 which is pivetel v a a hed to a k y m a of lhree h eded, et It wi e see at babel-e. ext s o t r y h ugh a s t provided iniront wall [6 and is normally main tained in its uppermost or inoperative position by means of a tension spring 54 having'one' end th f q secure to bra ket 3 by means of a rivet 56 and the other end secured to an inwardly 52.; eteht. memb 43 s secu to he.

the lever and detentfback into position and.

the eb cau e ratch t wh el. an he ee nee se eete wheel s 32 re ate en t e he-i 2: ii il. he I Q iQX-l; wv e e eme he re ht e h im lse ih he tesl 9 th whee a d sten the an -l It s de irab e h the u ber ei e h 44 on the ratchet wheel corresponds to the ll el f ncre n s Z en h sel W e l hat. etes M" wil v be in e itieh to. r ven coun er-rem eh e the Wheel re ar e s of which ush wi h th i qhh iae e end 915 he eve b ol rin 58 or the an opening preferably comprises a generally rectangular cut-out 6|, which is completely covered by one or more panes 62 of transparent material such as glass or the like disposed adjacent the inner surfacev of the front plate. Where two of such panes are used a card 63 or like member is inserted therebetween so as to prevent viewing of the interior of the mechanism except for a small window 64 formed by a cut-out in the card. The window is of substantially the same size as one of the increments 22 on the selector wheel, so that only one of the indicia can be observed in any rotational position of the wheel, it being understood that the periphery of the latter is disposed substantially immediately adjacent the window. Card 63 may have suitable instructions 66 or other information printed on the'front. side thereof to instruct, the user as to the function or operation of the device, and it is, of course, necesry tosecure the. names. and. card in their af resaid posi ion S pportingthebottom of the panes is a member 67 including a plate. ,68, pr v d d with flan s 69 arran ed o verlie a substantial por on, of. the back of the earmos face and edges of both ofthe panes. The mem-, her is forme n e ra ly wi h a chan el c ion 7| which may be secured to front plate, in a manner to be here na ter de cri ed. Jlhe upp r ends o t e be are he d imposit on bu e ewnwa dlv dtmwar ly n uflange l2 over-r lying the upper portion of the panes andforming extend ng tab te med at the up d' f Y the distal end of a bracket 13 disposed adjacent the w ls a dv and secur d o the housing by means of flanges. 74 spot w elded or the like to flanges 19 of the housing.

Means are provided whereby window 64 1s normally covered until the user of thedevice deposits a coin as aforesaid to uncover the window and enable him to observe the particular indicia g2 alignedwith thewindow. Such means include the, previously mentioned shutter 24 which is normally disposed between window 6-3 and the periphery of theselector wheel. The shutter is mounted on aleg 15 which extends at right angles froman arm 16 which is pivotally mounted on shaft by means of an. aperture provided at the distal end of the arm 16. Washers 11 are placed on the shaft between arm IG-andthe bracketv 3|, and a Washer 184 is interposed betweenthe'other' side, of the armand a shoulder 1. f e by a i m t c y r uced portion-of shaft 29 on which thearm and washers, are mounted. To maintain" the arm 16, leg '14, and'theshutter 24 in its loweror window covering position, a detent fil provided which is arranged to bear againstthe, upper surface'of'an axially elongated studa2fextending from arm 16 through an aperture-deformed in bracket 3| In this manner it will be seen that to raise the shutter it is necessary; to, lift the stud 82 against: the detent pressure so as to, causethe, shutter to be rotated upwardly along a generally curvate-pathdefined by the radial length of P131011 arm 16-. Aperture 83- is formed ina man-1 ner so as to permit arcuate movementof the.v stud w thin the its=nece s y to raise-la d ow r the hu r 1 7 The token piece,;s; S1.G0in 26, is arranged o shee h al re a ins, o ud't i the oll w n -m nner; It Willx Q no d thatv a coin slot 8h provided wa l por ion 18;, e s et be ne in c-ommunieatien with a n ral y vert cal coin chute 81 secured by spot welding gl; the, liQiQ heeuter surface; oi br cket 3 wh a coin is placed in the slot 86, it will gravitally descend to the terminus of the chutewhe're its verticaldescent will be stopped by a lug 88 disposed below the end of the chute. To prevent the coin from moving outwardly after it leaves the chute, a guide plate 89'is secured atone end thereof to lug 8-8 and at the other end there:

of to a corresponding lug9I disposed on bracket 3| on the other side of the stud 82. It will be noted that coin 26 in its terminal position, .as bestv seen in Figure 5, is arranged withonlythe upper. .portion thereof in horizontal alignment withthe stud 82 so that upon movement thereofto the right as indicated in Figure 6, such portion will engage andraise the stud with the attendant raising of the shutter 24. It is desirable to elfect such lateral movement of the coin by actuation of the handle 5|, and we have therefore provided a U-shaped member 92 arranged to be laterally reciprocated upon movement of lever 52. The member is arranged to slide in a laterally extending groove 93 formed in bracket 3| and is provided with a pair of inwardly protruding lugs 94 arranged to engage the edges of lever 52 ,so that upon actuation of thelatter, member 92 will be moved in its groove, and it will be clear that as handle 5| is moved downwardly, member 92 will move to itsright hand position, as in Figure 6, causing coin 26 to raise the stud 82 and lift the shutter. The leading edge 96 of member 82 is preferably rounded to correspond with the peripheral surface of the coin, and stud 82 is provided with an enlarged head 91 under a portion of which the coin is disposed. Upon release of handle 5|, lever 52 will be retracted to itsnormal position due to the action of spring 54, U-member 92 will likewise be retracted to the position shown in Figure 5, coin 26 will fall through the slot defined by lugs 83 and 9|, guide plate 89 and bracket 3|, and stud 82 will be returned to its downward or shutter closing position. It is understood that as the handle is released, the selector wheel will be again rotated to align a new increment 22 with the window so that on insertion of another coin, the shutter may be opened so as to permit the viewing of adifferent indicia. I

To protect the mechanism from possible damage when the operator is removing the coins from the receptacle in which the device may be placed,-as well as to prevent excessive dust accumulation in the moving parts, it is desirable to" substantially enclose the sameby means such as the removable casing disclosed in the drawing. The casing includes a bottom wall IOI, rear wall I02 and side wall I 03,'the sidewall being disposed opposite bracket 3|. Rear'wall I02 is provided with an angularly related portion I04 which slopes to correspond with the shape of bracket 3|, and a flange I06 is formed on the bottom and rear wall whereby the casing may be detachably secured to the bracket as by screws I01.

To prevent unauthorized removal of the de- 6 gage and disengage a ceptaele.

In Figures '1 through 10, we havedisclosed a somewhat modified form of the invention. This embodiment discloses .a mechanism similar to that hereinabove set. forth except that means are provided to illuminate the selector wheel periphery when thewindow shutter is opened so that the apparatus may be readily used: even though it may be placed in a room with a mini mum amount ofillumination. Referring toxthe drawings, it willbe seen that :a light gl-obellll is operatively inserted in the housing. prefer ably adjacent both the opening 64 and the periphery of selector wheel 2|.- The globe may be threadedly engaged in a socketmemberul22gln a manner wellknown in the art, the lattermemb-er being supported on a bracket I23 secured to front plate I6. -Means are provided for light-., ing'the globe when the shutter 24 is raised to its window uncovering position illustrated. in Figure '7, and it is desirable to effect such -illumination by the same mechanism previously described for moving the shutter. -.In Figure 8. it will be seen that a flexible contact arm I24 is secured tobracket 3| by member I26,.the'-arm having a contact area I21 which is disposed in thepath of movement of either stud 82 "or its enlargedhead 91. A conduit I28 is connected to the member I26 at one end of theformenthe other end being connected to a suitable dry cell battery I29 which may be disp ceptacle holding the apparatus. The battery, in turn, is connected to socket I22 by a conduit I3I from which it is then grounded as indicated at I32-to the apparatus.- 'It is understoodthat the stud 82 formsa similar ground I33,so that upon upward movement of stud 8 2 caused by lateral displacement of the c0in;the circuit will be completed and the globe will be lit. From the foregoing description, it will-beseen that an extremely simplified coin operated device has been produced which, while permitting rotation of the selector wheel without insertion of a coin, requires the deposit of a coin to enable the user to observe the indicia appearing on the wheel. It will also be noted that the shutter will open upon movement of the handle from its normal uppermost position to its second .posi'- tion while the selector wheel or rotor will onlyrotate upon return of the handle -to its first positionand when the shutter isclosed. In this manner, the average user will not fully under stand how the various indicia will appear through the window/64 ,as successive coins are depositedin the device;

We1claim:

1. In a coin operated amusement device, .a

casing including a front plate having an opening therein, a rotor mounted for rotation in said casing and having the. periphery thereof divided into substantially equal circumferential segments, indicia appearing on said segments, a ratchet wheel including a plurality'of teeth secured to said rotor for rotation therewith, a manually operable handle on said casing,"r,es'il-'- ient means normally urging said handle in one position, a lever secured to' said handle and having a portion thereof engageable with one of said teeth in a second position of-s'aid handle, whereby on return of the handle" to 'said' first position the lever portion will impart a rotational impulse to' saidratchet wheel and said rotor, a shutter member interposed between said rotor periphery and said front plate opening, a* slide fixed member in "the rememberc eratively connected with" said lever for receiving and moving a coin to raise said shutter from said interposed position upon movement of said handle from its. first to second position,mea'ns for resiliently returning said shutter member to said interposed position upon return of, said handle to its first position. g

. 2. -In a coin operated amusement device, a casing, including a front vplatehaving an opening therein, .a'rotor mounted for ,rotation in said casing and having the periphery thereof divided into substantially equal circumferential .segments,- indicia appearing on said segments, a ratchet wheel axially aligned with and secured to saidrotor, said wheel including a'plurality of angularlyscut teeth, a manually operable handle mounted on said casing, a lever connected to said. handle for movement therewith, a pawl ele- 'ment secured to said'lever which on movement of said handle and said lever from, afirst to second position will slide, over said teeth and upon contra movement thereof will engage one of. said teeth and impart'a rotational impulse to the'wheel androtor, means resiliently urging said handle and lever toward said first position, a substantially opaque shutter member normally disposed between said opening and said rotor periphery, means on said casing for receiving a coin, a ,coin intercepting element operatively connected to said lever for moving said coin upon movement of the handle from its first to second position, means interconnected to said shutter member in the path of movement of said coin whereby on movement of the latter by said element the shutter member will be moved fromits said normal position to place said periphery in sight registration with said opening, and means resiliently urging said shutter member to said normal position. v p I 3. In acoin operated amusement device, a casing including a front plate having an. opening therein, a rotor mounted for rotation in said casing and having the periphery thereof divided into substantially equal circumferential segments, indicia appearing on said segments, a ratchet wheel including a plurality of teeth secured to said rotor for rotation therewith, a manually op'erable handle on said casing, resilie'ntf means normally urging said handle'in one position, a lever secured to said. handle and having 9, portion thereof engageable with one of said teeth in a second position of said handle, whereby on return of the handle to said first position the lever portion will impart a', rotational impulse to said ratchet wheel and said rotor, a shutter member interposed between said rotor periphery and said front plate opening, a slide member operatively connected with said lever for receiving and moving a coin to raise said shutter fromsa'i'd interposed position upon movement of said handle from its first to second position, means for resiliently returning said shutter member to said interposed positio'n upon return of said handle to its first position, a normally open electric circuit including a battery and light globe within said casing, means for closing said circuit upon movement of said handle from itsfirst to second position so as to light the globe when the shutter is in its raised position, and ,means for breaking said circuit upon return of the shutter to its said interposed position. I n I I h 4. Coin operated control mechanism compris ing a casing having an opening therein, a selector wheel mounted forrotation in said casing and having the periphery thereof divided into a plue rality of substantially equal circumferential-segments, the periphery ofsaid Wheel being adjacent to said-casing opening, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to the casing and having a pawl at one end thereof and resilient means ad,- giacent the other end thereof for normally maintaining said lever in a first position, :a. ratchet whee'lsecured to said selector wheel andhaving teeth thereon .engageable by said pawl upon movement of said lever from said first position to .a second position and whereby on forcible re.- turn of said lever to its first position a unidirectional rotational impulse will be imparted to the wheels, means for preventing counterrotation of said wheels, a shutter member operatively mounted between said opening and wheel periphery, an arm operatively connected to said shutter, means in said casing for receiving a coin, means operable on movement of said lever from its first to second position-for urging said*coin against said arm and moving the shutter sons to place said opening and wheel segments in sight registration, and means resiliently urging said shutter toward its interposed position. 5. Coin operated control mechanism comprising a casing having an opening therein, aselector wheel mounted for rotation in said casing and having the periphery thereof divided into .a plurality of substantially equal circumferentialsegments, the periphery of said wheel being adjacent to said casing opening, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to the casing and having a pawl at one end thereof and resilient means adjacent the other end thereof for normally maintaining said lever in a first position, a ratchet wheel secured to said selector Wheel and having teeth thereon engagea'ble by sa id'pawl upon movement ofsaid lever from said first posi tion to a second position and whereby on forcible return of said lever to its first position a unidirectional impulse will be imparted to the wheels, means for preventing counter-rotation of said wheels, a shutter member operatively mounted between said opening and wheel periphery, an arm operatively connected to said shutter, coin receiving and guiding means in said icasingfa slide, member operatively connected to said lever and arranged for lineal movement upon pivotal nroyement of the lever, said slide member havin sight registration, and means resiliently urging saidshutter to its normal positionbetween the opening'and' Wheel periphery.

FRED E. ERICKSON. I LOYAL K. :RGE.

REFERENCES 0151121; 7

"The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 'iName, Date 485,567; Ringen,x. 'Nov., 1., 1892 ,545,965 Manley .Sept.r10,18

603,111 'Mason, Apr. 25, 1898 1,583,143 Hansen 1 May 4,1926 1,596,867 Brunaugh, Aug. 24 1926 1,978,395. Groetchen- 0st. 23 1934 2,253,308 Williams Oct. "2: i941 

